The forme of Oath ... which liue in this Colonie ... the Oth of
alegance to his maj ... fidelity to the same.
You shall sweare by the name of the Great God ... & earth & in his
holy fear, & presence that you shall not speake, or doe, deuise, or
aduise, anything or things, acte or acts, directly, or indirectly,
By land, or water, that doth, shall, or may, tend to the destruction
or ouerthrowe of this present plantation, Colonie, or Corporation of
this towne Plimouth in New England.
Neither shall you suffer the same to be spoken, or done, but shall
hinder, & oposse the same, by all due means you can.
You shall not enter into any league, treaty, Confederac̄ or
combination, with any, within the said Colonie or without the same
that shall plote, or contriue any thing to the hurte, & ruine of the
growth, and good of the said plantation.
You shall not consente to any shuch confederation, nor conceale any
known vnto you certainly, or by conje but shall forthwith manifest &
make knowne the same, to the Gouernours of this said towne for the
time being.
And this you promise & swear, simply, & truly, & faithfully to
performe as a true christian [you hope for help from God, the God of
truth & punisher of falshoode.]
The forme of the Oath which ... of the Gouernour, & Counsell at
euery Election of any of them.
You shall swear, according to that wisdom, and measure of discerning
giuen vnto you; faithfully, equally & indifrently without respect of
persons; to administer Justice, in all causes coming before you. And
shall labor, to aduance, & furder the good of this Colony, &
plantation, to the vtmost of your power; and oppose any thing that
may hinder the same. So help you God.
The words, “a true Christian” were afterwards crossed out, and the form
used later: “as you hope for help from God, the God of truth and
punisher of falsehood” was substituted.
By the Laws of 1636, every freeman was required to take the following
Oath: